Chapter 9
The Queen's Birthday
(Daniella's POV)
I held my breath as I listened to my mother's speech. Olivia and Yvette were fussing around me, making sure that my little hairdo hasn't come loose. Then, another maid came towards us with a deep-fuchsia box. After curtsying, she opened the box and retrieved a beautiful tiara. The base of it was brushed silver, inlaid with thousands of silver gemstones. There were silver vines that twisted and twirled from the base to meet at the top of the tiara and sprouting from these vines, butterflies made of silver and blue diamonds hung as if they were alive and fluttering free.
"This is for me?"
"Her Majesty wanted to keep it from you as a surprise but she wishes that you wear it as the Princess."
I bowed my head a little so that the maid could arrange it onto my head. She did so, quite quickly in fact, and handed me a hand-held mirror. When I looked into the glass, my breath hitched a little. Two months ago, I was just an ordinary peasant girl from the village. Now, my pale reflection looked back at me, rosy cheeked and with a crown adorning my head. I must have stared at the mirror for a long time for Yvette patted me and said, "Its nearly time."
I nodded and handed the mirror back to the maid who brought me my tiara. Then, I turned and faced the wooden oak doors that were to be opened very soon.
As I waited, I listened to Mother's speech. Parts of it wasn't the truth, of course. Mother decided that she didn't want the neighbouring kingdoms to show me disrespect, simply because I have lived a peasant's life for ten years. So, she's concocted a story in which I've lived with a family of nobles in Wonderland because a force of dark magic took me there. My thoughts of this story were cut short when I heard mother's voice announce, "...my daughter, Princess Daniella"
My heart stopped beating as the doors opened and a crowd of curious faces greeted me. I looked straight ahead and to my left, there was the throne podium, where my mother stood beaming at me. A little overwhelmed, I was rooted to the spot for a second before I decided to carefully make my way past the sea of people. Soon enough, I was standing next to my mother's side, watching the guests as they lowered their bodies and bowed to us. Mother bent down a little and whispered so that only I could hear, "You look stunning, my little firefly"
After the feast, I decided to look for Prince Nathan. I was constantly hindered by people who wanted to talk to me but eventually, I spotted Nathan by himself near the large fireplace. Cautiously, I made my way over to him . As he looked up, he smiled and said, "Well, I never knew."
I bit my lip and then replied, "but you don't mind...do you?"
"Why would I? Although, I think my sisters are a little afraid."
I scoffed, "Why?"
"Well, you're the daughter of The, um... The Queen."
I observed Nathan's stuttering words as he mentioned my mother. I knew what he was going to call Mother. Evil. I sighed and replied, "So they're afraid of my magic."
The prince shrugged and said, "Well, I'm not. I know you won't hurt us."
"You're right. I won't. I have light magic..."
"Really? I thought you would have dark magic," Nathan exclaimed cautiously, just in case it came out as an offence.
I smiled and said, "Well technically, I have both light and dark magic. My dark magic is inherited obviously but my light magic comes from both of my parents."
"You're a product of true love aren't you?"
"You know about magic?"
"A little...when you're a child of true love between your parents it means that you are gifted with light magic right?"
"Yes, you're right."
Before Nathan could reply, he was interrupted as the crowd began to move around the long table that stood in the middle of the room. Nathan spoke up, "Come on, I think they're bringing out the cake."
I nodded and we both walked towards where the crowd was gathered. We gently pushed our way to the front of the group and I stood next to my mother as a tall cake was laid in front of her. The cake was decorated with the colours of the royal crest, white, black and red. On the front of the cake, clean cut layers of fondue formed the crest, a crown with a red square below it.
As a jester pestered around my mother, the crowd held its breath. "Make a wish, make a wish," the jester teased. Honestly, he was creeping me out a little.
My mother narrowed her eyes at the candle. I already knew what she was thinking about. Victory in Snow White's death. Then, she blew out the candle and we both watched as the smoke slowly evaporated into thin air. To my relief, my mother used her magic and pushed the jester to the side. He was really unnerving me with his weird smile and medieval suit. I was close enough to Mother to hear her sigh before she said under her breath, "Let's wind this up. I've had enough revelry."
Although I was enjoying the party, I suddenly craved to be back in my chambers. Before I could express my thoughts to Mother however, the large oak doors to the hall opened and everyone turned to see who dared to intrude.
A lady, dressed in a midnight blue dressed walked into the scene. She had her hair elaborately tied back and as she strutted into the room, she said rather confidently, "Oh, don't go yet."
I recognise that voice! Wait a second...its Cora!
I sensed my mother becoming tense as Cora walked towards us. Under her breath, she uttered a word that only I could hear, "Go."
Not wanting Cora to know what was going on, I slowly backed away and merged myself into the crowd, where Prince Nathan was standing. As soon as I stood by his side, he whispered to me, "What's going on?"
"That's my grandmother...but she cannot know about me."
Nathan looked at me as if he wanted a little more explanation. However, I shook my head and put a finger to my lips. "Not now."
The room's whispers died down as we watched the interaction between my mother and Cora.
"Happy birthday, darling."
"I don't want anything from you," my mother replied as she eyed Cora's outstretched hand warily.
"Oh you'll want this. I did what no one else could do, Regina. I've brought you your revenge...Snow White's beating heart. Crush it, and she dies at last."
I gasped but Cora continued, "You don't believe me...well, let me show you." Cora made a gesture to one of the guards that stood near my mother's mirror and they brought it forward. Then, Cora said, "Show us Snow White."
I watched the mirror intently as it showed the Princess surrounded by a group of dwarves and an unknown man. Behind me, I heard a quiet voice gasp before whispering to someone, "Prince James. There's Prince James." I quickly glanced behind me and saw King Midas speak to another man who stood beside him. Then, I looked at Nathan just as he muttered under his breath, "told you. That's where he has gone."
Despite the rapid whispers that arose behind me due to the discovery of Prince James' whereabouts, I was more interested in another matter. I watched Snow as she loudly exclaimed, "To my stepmother! May she spend the rest of her birthdays...searching for me."
At this exclamation, I saw my mother seeth into the mirror and raise the heart that she held in her hand. Then, she slowly squeezed the glowing red organ. This was my first time seeing her crush a heart so I leaned my head to the left slightly, trying to see the organ although I felt slightly disgusted myself. I felt my own heart stop beating as I glanced between the heart in my mother's hand and the reaction of Snow. The Princess had stood up instantly and she was clawing at her chest. There was a horrid crackling sound as my mother's hand closed around the heart more firmly. I cringed a little at the sound and frowned. There was a moment when the whole room didn't draw a breathe. That was, until I saw a cricket fly out of Snow's chest. Wait, what?
Seconds later, there was a pile of dust on the ground in front of my mother's feet and a thump behind me to the left. I turned around. A guard lay dead, on the cool marble floor. I raised my hands to my mouth as my eyes darted between the guard, the mirror and my mother.
Cora's voice was the first to speak. "Someone switched the hearts."
I have never heard such a primitive sound come out from my mother as she turned to face Cora and growl, ''Who?"
After the crowds cleared from the table to return back to the last part of the festivities, Nathan pulled me aside. "So, what was that about? Why couldn't your grandmother know about you?"
I looked around and seeing that Cora was still there, I suggested, "Why don't we talk in the gardens?"
"Of course"
I smiled and lead Nathan out of the hall and into a corridor. After going down a flight of stairs, we emerged into the castle courtyard, where torches stood illuminating the circular space. "The gardens are just through here," I said as I pointed towards another flight of steps. Once we got down, I decided to answer Nathan's question. "According to my mother, if Cora knew of my existence, she would meddle with my life and try to control me."
"That's it? An over controlling, dominant grandmother?"
"I think there's more to it to be honest. If you think my mother's magic is bad, you haven't experienced Cora's yet. Cora's evil. She desires power and she doesn't care what measures it takes for her to get it. I mean, Cora killed my father."
"The King?"
Oh great. I shouldn't have said that. Now Nathan's going to think that I have no claim to the throne considering that I'm technically a bastard child. I didn't answer his question but mentally noted that I would have to somehow steal a memory potion from my mother and give it to Nathan to take away his memories of this conversation.
"Well let's hope the guests won't whisper about you at the party right now. Afterall, Cora's there."
I nodded my head. "Yeah...true, but since we're at the gardens, would you take a walk with me?"
Nathan smiled with his dimples appearing as he answered, "Of course, Princess."
We walked through the well-kept shrubs and bushes until I spotted my mother's apple tree to my left. "Come, I'm going to show you something."
As we came closer to the apple tree, I said to Nathan, "This is the tree where my parents met, where their true love developed."
I looked up at the tree and said softly, "I never knew my father but coming to this tree makes me feel better. It reminds me that I'm loved, and that my parents passed on their true love to the magic in my bones."
Nathan slowly walked towards the tree and commented, "I've never seen apples so red and lush at this time of the year."
I smirked and in a very unladylike fashion, climbed up onto the low brick wall that circled the tree. I watched Nathan's surprised look turn into a smile as he said, "You could have asked me to pick an apple for you instead of jumping onto the garden bed and doing it yourself."
"Where's the fun in that? Afterall, I'm the one showing you the gardens," I replied as I reached up to retrieve an apple from the green leaves. It came off the branch easily and I was holding a large deep red apple in my hands. Before I could hand it to Nathan however, a shrill voice suddenly penetrated the air. "What on earth do you think you're doing?"
I nearly stumbled back onto the trunk of the tree as I twirled around to see who the voice belonged to. I held my breath as Cora emerged from the shadows and strode rather quickly towards us. I opened my mouth to speak but I was cut off. "You two happen to be on private royal grounds."
I felt Nathan swallow beside me as Cora continued to speak, but specifically to me. "And you, what are you doing? Climbing a tree in the palace gardens in a dress? And not just any tree, you've decided to tamper with this one. You should be glad that the Queen won't be the one punishing you."
Despite Cora's harsh words which she practically spat into my face, I glared at her and said, "so you're going to punish us?"
Honestly, I preferred if Cora went to the guards instead of coming up to us herself. The guards woud tell me to return back to the party and I wouldn't have to face Cora's angry screams. Before I could process my thoughts however, I saw Cora flick her hands and then I felt a sudden force hit my body. I doubled over and the last thing I remember is my head hitting brick before my vision blurred and blacked out.
(Regina's POV)
I sat at my vanity, looking at the box that currently imprisoned my father. What was he thinking, returning the heart to Snow?! I would have killed that wretched girl and all of this blood lust would be over! I would be enjoying my life with Daniella right now if it wasn't for him. Doesn't he want me to be happy?
I was too distracted by my thoughts to notice my mother enter the room. I jumped a little when her voice asked, "Where has your father run off to? I still owe him a thank you for spoiling your birthday surprise."
I stood up with the box and faced Mother to answer, "I've already dealt with him." Then, I slowly opened the lid to reveal my father. "Say hello to Daddy."
I watched Cora's face light up in a way that would have made my childhood much more bearable. "Oh! You've impressed me, sweetheart."
I grinded my teeth and shrugged off the comment. If I never got your approval as a child, why should your comment be genuine now?
Instead of pondering my thoughts, I changed the subject and said, "You know, Daddy may have been wrong to ruin my revenge, but he was right about you."
My mother frowned as she scoffed, "when are you going to get it in that thick head that I do everything for you? Especially the things you can't do like Snow's heart. How long have you been trying to get it? Because it only took me a day."
Immediately, I replied, "and it only took you an hour to lose it...when I get my revenge, it will be my victory."
I saw my mother open her mouth to reply but a series of loud running footsteps approached us. I turned around towards the hall of mirrors to see a guard walking rather quickly towards me. The black netting underneath his helmet had been taken off so I clearly saw that a nervous expression was etched across his face. With a brief glance towards my mother, he turned to me and said quickly, "Your Majesty...sorry to disturb but please, may I speak to you privately. I'm afraid this is quite important."
I nodded and without turning away from the guard's direction, I said, "Mother, please leave."
"I'll be back."
At the corner of my eyes, I saw my mother disappear in a cloud of dark crimson smoke.
"Yes?"
"It's the Princess. She's in the gardens, unconscious and injured next to your apple tree."
My heart plummeted. "What?!" Then, I immediately waved my hands around myself and the guard to transport us down to the gardens. I sprinted to the apple tree and ran towards Daniella, who was lying on the ground beside the low brick fence. There was a cut on her forehead and a trickle of blood ran down the side of her head. The small gathering of maids cleared the way and I knelt down beside my daughter. Whilst shaking her gently, I frantically whispered, "Daniella. Daniella! Can you hear me? What happened?!"
I put my fingers on her neck to feel her pulse and to my relief, I could still feel blood pumping through her body. I turned my head around to the guard who informed me of this situation and asked, "What happened?"
The guard, who looked quite young replied softly, "My Queen, a Prince around the same age as Princess Daniella ran to me and said that your mother scolded them both and in doing so, used magic on the Princess. The Prince also told me that he was accompanying the Princess on a walk in the gardens when she suggested to go get an apple from this tree. Your Majesty, I believe that this was when Cora found them and punished them."
"Who was the Prince? Was it King Midas' grandson?"
"Yes, I think so. But since his family was leaving, I told him to go join them. My Queen, I don't think the boy was intending to harm the Princess."
"No, of course not. It's my mother. There's obviously been a misunderstanding," I replied as I turned back to Daniella. "You may all leave now, I can handle this. Oh and tell my daughter's maids to run a hot bath for when Daniella wakes up." After saying this, I used my magic and transported Daniella and myself to her chambers. Once Daniella landed softly onto her bed, I watched with relief as she stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "Wha..."
"Oh, Daniella! You're alright," I said as I pushed back her hair. Daniella's brows frowned but she closed her eyes and muttered, "Mama, my head hurts."
"Shh, it's going to be fine. Just hold still for now, alright?" As my left hand gently held down Daniella's head, I hovered my other hand on top of the bloody cut. A warm purple hue came from my hand and weaved into the wound. The cut slowly closed up as if it was never there before. "There, do you feel better?"
"Mmm."
"The headache will go away shortly. I'm sorry but my healing powers aren't strong enough to completely take the pain away." After pausing for a second, I continued, "I'm so sorry that you had to experience that. I should have watched over you more carefully. I didn't know that my mother would come out into the gardens."
Daniella opened her eyes and said simply, "my head already feels better, Mama."
I smiled. "That's good. It's quite late now though so I've asked the maids to prepare a hot bath. You can sleep in tomorrow morning. You've had a late night."
Daniella smirked and said, "So do I get to miss my morning lessons with my tutor?"
I playfully answered, "No, you'll attend them later in the day."
"Mama!"
I put my hands up whilst chuckling and I said, "I was just joking! No, you won't have to attend your morning lessons."
Daniella looked at me warily but I changed the topic and asked her, "so what happened at the gardens? I was told by a guard that you were with King Midas's grandson."
"I was. Well, I didn't want to be in the ballroom anymore. It got kinda stuffy and hot. I thought that I should maybe get some fresh air and I asked Prince Nathan to come with me to the gardens. I thought Cora would be inside of course. Mama, you aren't going to get angry with me if I say that I took Nathan to your apple tree right?"
"No...Although you must have done so for you were unconscious right next to it...Why?"
In a quiet voice, Daniella said, "nothing. Its just...I may or may not have stood on the brick wall surrounding the tree to pick an apple."
I saw Daniella look down as if awaiting some form of scolding. Instead, she received a little chuckle from me. She looked up as I said, "although I wouldn't suggest you climbing a tree or anything for that matter especially with a dress on, I understand. You just wanted to pick an apple for your friend."
Daniella nodded as I continued, "you know, when I was your age or slightly younger, I wasn't tall enough to pick an apple from the tree either. Can you guess what I did to receive punishment of one week without dessert?"
"Climb the tree?"
"I stood onto Rochinante's back and nearly fell over. But that was when my mother appeared out of nowhere."
"That's what she did to me as well."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Cora started screaming at us when I was standing on the brick wall so I was startled at first and nearly fell into the garden bed. When I got down, she asked me what on earth I was doing climbing trees in a dress. I mean...I understand why she would get angry at us considering that we were just guests at the party according to her knowledge. She was really annoyed though, and that's when I felt a force hit me hard."
I clenched my jaws, mother had no right to use magic on Daniella...Let alone any child of the guests. This is my kingdom. My rule. Not hers. "She needs to go back to Wonderland. Now."
There was a silence before Daniella asked, "but how? Didn't you trap her in Wonderland last time?"
I nodded, "clearly that didn't contain her. I need a spell to seal the portals...But don't worry about that. I'll take care of it tonight and make sure that my mother's gone for good. Just get some rest after you take a bath ok?"
"Mmm."
I bent over and kissed Daniella on the forehead. "Good night little firefly. I'll tell Yvette to help you out of your dress"
When I returned to my chambers, I quickly flicked through my spellbook to find magic that would seal the mirror passage between realms. As luck would have it, I found a spell within minutes and I quickly enacted the spell onto the mirrors of the realm. Just as I smirked at my success, the Genie appeared in the mirror that hung above my vanity. "Your Majesty, may I ask what that was for?"
"A spell to seal the passages between realms so that my mother cannot come back to the Enchanted Forest. Or anywhere for that matter."
"So you're going to push her into the mirror again? Excuse me when saying this but she was caught off-guarded last time wasn't she? This time, she would be more prepared..."
"I know! I do have a brain, unlike others."
I watched the Genie gulp as he looked at me with large eyes. Suddenly, a realisation came to me. Despite his pathetic self, the Genie was useful right now. "Mirror, I need you to drag Cora into the looking glass."
"Wha...how?"
"Excuse me? Shouldn't you know the answer to this? I know that you can reach out of the mirror. You think I wouldn't have realised it if the items on my vanity have been slightly rearranged?" I taunted, watching as the Genie's face blush a dark hue of blue.
"I...I was..."
"Save it. You were trying to find something to help you escape. I assure you though, you're going to stay in there for the rest of your life unless I let you out. Oh, and did I forget? You wished to gaze upon my face forever didn't you?"
I laughed as the Genie looked down. Finally, he uttered, "Alright, I'll drag Cora into the mirror."
I walked over to the mirror and stroked the surface whilst whispering, "That's better."
Then, the face of the Genie disappeared with a puff of blue smoke. Beeming at the success of the formation of my plans, I turned around and sat down by the fire, waiting for my mother to come. I watched the flames flare and flicker as I thought about how Cora had treated Daniella. I was glad that my daughter was alright but Cora cannot get away with this! I sighed, knowing that I would have to reveal Daniella to my mother. Hopefully, the spell that sealed the mirror portals would keep Cora in Wonderland forever. My hopes were to be tested very soon however as I heard the click of my mother's heels against the marble floor.
"So, Regina, what was so urgent that the guard had to disrupt us from our conversation?"
I exhaled and stood up from the fire to face my mother. Circling her, I began, "Well, it seems like someone has harmed a young girl in the palace gardens."
My mother played an innocent face. "Who? Are you accusing me, dear?"
I glared at my mother. "Why did you use magic on that girl?"
"She was climbing atop private property! Didn't you find her right under your apple tree? The one that you care so much for..."
"I did find her under my apple tree."
"I thought you would be angry, sweetheart. She was climbing your tree! In a dress, if I may so add. I didn't get the chance to find out which kingdom she comes from but the boy she was with is King Midas's grandson."
"I am aware of the boy's identity. Oh and relating to what you've said earlier, the girl was not climbing the actual tree."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because she knows the importance of that tree. She was just reaching up to pick an apple from its branches. Being a little too short, she decided to get up on the brick to retrieve an apple."
"Did you talk to the girl?"
"Well of course I did."
"Which kingdom does she come from? She needs to be taught to act properly in a dress, talk like a respectable lady and to not sneak off to places that she shouldn't be in," Cora scoffed at the end of this. "You know, the girl reminded me of you when you were her age."
I smirked at Cora and turned slightly away from her gaze. "Really? You see the resemblance?"
My mother shrugged, "anyway, did you find out her identity?"
I laughed at my mother's stupidity. As a glanced at her confused face, I chuckled even more. Eventually I stopped when my mother breathed out softly, "No..."
I raised an eyebrow at Cora as she spoke, "But you weren't pregnant! What? When? With whom?"
I straightened my back as I answered, "none of your business. And for your information, she's biologically mine. However, you won't ever get to harm or influence her in any way," I threw a glance at the floor length mirror that I had begun striding towards.
"You don't have the power to push back to Wonderland."
I seethed at Mother, "I don't need it. There's someone who would be happy to lend a hand."
At this, the Genie appeared on the surface of the looking glass as he taunted, "hello again, Cora. Ready for your trip back to Wonderland?"
Immediately, blue hands that matched the hue in the mirror came out and grasped my mother around her waist. As Cora struggled, she exclaimed, "Don't do this! I'm not going to harm your daughter again! I didn't know that she was yours..."
"I'm not taking any chances. Oh and I've already cast a spell to seal this portal. Not even I can reopen it and you'll be out of my life forever."
Through clenched teeth, my mother replied, "Without me, you'll fail. And even worse, you'll be alone. You've already killed off all opportunities of remarriage haven't you?"
My eyes flared. "Even though I now have Daniella, I'll still be better off alone than with you."
"You think you're better alone? Let's see how you really feel."
I frowned but in a blink, I saw that the box containing my father was in Cora's hands. "Wha..."
The hands of the mirror however, had already begun to drag Cora into the mirror. As she slowly disappeared into the watery surface of the glass, I screamed and ran towards the mirror. I came up to the surface of the mirror just as the box disappeared behind the glass."NO! Daddy!"
I turned around, not knowing what to do; it all happened within a matter of seconds. In frustration, I let out another scream but before I heard the quick footsteps of guards, the Genie smirked and said, "Well at least you always have me."
